Snow-shovel



"(No Model) J. KAERGHER. snow SHOVEL.

No. 502,724. Y Patented Aug. a 1893.

NITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KAEROHER, OF BARABOO, WISCONSIN.

SNOW-SHOVEL.

SIEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,724, dated August8, 1893.

Application filed March 30, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN KAERCHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baraboo, in the county of Sauk and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow and other Shovels;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in snow and other shovels, inwhich a wooden blade or the like is used, and it has for its primeobject to strengthen such blades and render the shovel more effectivefor the purposes desired, by preventing the blade from splitting; and toadapt such blade for cutting snow and ice by the use of the hard cuttingedge which it presents. 1

A further object of the'invention is to construct a shovel at a minimumexpense which will readily permit of the handle being re-' moved andreplaced and consequently occupy but little space in transportation andstorage, and may be put together and taken apart by anyone withoutnecessarily being a mechanic.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understoodfrom the following description and claims when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view ofmyshovel with the handle partly broken away. Fig.2, is a rear view of thesame. Fig. 3, is a sectional detail view of the blade and: wire taken atthe point indicated by the dotted line an, 00, on Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, isa perspective sectional detail view of the wire removed.

Referring by letter to said drawings:A, indicates the blade which'isformed of wood and is here shown as of a general rectangular contouralthough it may be of any other suitable shape, and B, indicates thehandle.

The blade A, is provided in its longitudinal side edges with a groove orrecess'a, and the front transverse edge is provided witha similar grooveor recess 1), which is designed to receive the wire as will be presentlydescribed. This blade is provided on its upper rear side with avertically disposed transverse strip 0, designed to form a rest orsupport for the handle which assumes an oblique position with respect tothe blade.

Serial No. 468,301. (No model.)

The opposite side and front edges of the blade are wired by means of asingle wire D, for the purpose of protecting said edges and preventingthe blade from splitting or becoming otherwise injured; This wire may beround in cross section or of other suitable shape, although I prefer forthe purpose of better results to roughen the wire on its engaging sidesas shown in Figs. 3, and 4, of the drawings, or the wire may be providedwith a single edge instead of a plurality of such edges, if desired. Bythus shaping the wire I have found it to seat itself better in the bladeand not so liable to come out when in use.

The handle is preferably provided at its forward end with a bevel c, anda screw (1, may be employed for removably securing said beveled end tothe blade as shown.

In constructing the shovels, I first place the beveled end of the handleupon the blade and secure it by means of the screw. I then pass the wirearound the latter edges and forward transverse edge of the blade withinthe groove, formed therein, and carry the free ends back obliquely asshown, to the handle. I then pass one of the wires up and around thehandle as shown at e, and bringing both ends together,I twist orotherwise fasten them as shown at f. A loop being thus formed around thehandle, when it is desired to remove the latter, by simply taking outthe screw d, the handle may. be drawn out of the loop, and to replacethe handle it is simply necessary to insert it through the loop, andafter adj usting it apply the screw.

While I have shown and described a wire as extending obliquely on therear side of the cross bar 0, yet in some cases. a groove may be formedin the rear of the cross bar'or in the rear'edge of the blade and thewire.-car ried into said groove before forming the loop.

Having described my invention, what I claim is.

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a shovel having a wooden bladewith its sides and forward edge wired, bya continuous piece of wire,substantially as specified.

2. As an improved article of manuf; cture, a shovel havinga wooden bladewith its lat- 'eral and forward edges provided with a groove,

and a wire arranged in said groove, and its groove and having itsengaging or contact portion roughened or pointed, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KAERGHER.

Witnesses:

HERMAN GRoToPHoRsT, J. A. BUCKLEY.

